HMRC have plans to introduce a points-based penalty system for late payments by businesses and individuals for corporation tax, income tax and self-assessment. As with the existing penalty regime, there will be a ‘reasonable excuse’ get-out, but like the current system, inability to pay and reliance on a third party are not reasonable excuses.
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Delegates at BSPD’s annual conference in Dundee last week were presented with the long-awaited results of the FiCTION trial which was set up to test three different approaches to the management of tooth decay (dental caries) in children. It showed that prevention and empathetic dentistry is critical in management of dental caries in children.
Read more: Large scale trial stresses need for prevention for children
Children will be banned from buying energy drinks under government plans to tackle childhood obesity and bad behaviour in schools. Shops that flout the ban will face fines of up to £2,500. But the Government expects that 90% of the energy drinks that children currently buy will be replaced after the ban by other soft drinks.
The BDA has warned that general dental practitioners in Northern Ireland are ’at breaking point’. The comments were made as they responded to the publication of recent reports from NHS Digital. Richard Graham, chair of the BDA NI’s Dental Practice Committee, said: “Morale and earnings are at crisis point. Only meaningful investment in dental services, and the professionals who underpin these will safeguard a future for Health Service dentistry”
In reply to a Parliamentary question, health minister, Steve Brine MP revealed the extent of fines levied from patients who have claimed exemption from dental treatment charges, but where that exemption could not be verified. These reached a peak of nearly £17million in 2017, but declined by over half in 2018.
Read more: Department reveals extent of dental patient fines
Residents in Oxfordshire’s care homes need better access to dentistry services, a new report by Healthwatch Oxfordshire has found. They found that those in care homes face many hurdles in obtaining access to a dentist. The watchdog is calling for better access to dental treatment for such residents in their county.
Read more: Better access to dental treatment for care home residents needed